![]() ![]() There tends to be a lot of discussion about what size of piezo element is best. ![]() ![]() We will discuss each of the key factors below to give you some groundwork to build from when considering what to use on your build. Sizes can range from quite small varieties around 10mm in diameter to very large 50mm disks. Piezoelectric elements (piezos) come in various shapes and sizes: encased vs. In this sense, a guitar with a piezo pickup is really still an acoustic instrument – the acoustic vibrations are just being amplified, in a similar manner to playing into a microphone. A piezo, on the other hand, has nothing to do with magnets: it picks up vibrations only. These fluctuations are increased by an amplifier and reproduced as the familiar electric guitar sound. Magnetic pickups pick up sound when their magnetic fields are caused to fluctuate by the vibration of steel strings near them. It is worth pointing out here the difference between a magnetic pickup (like those in electric guitars) and piezos. There are other types of piezos beyond the metal/ceramic disk we have described, but since that is the most common kind available (and the kind we carry in our shop), it is what we will be discussing here. The end result is that we hear our instrument in an amplified form. These fluctuations in the current through the piezo are picked up by an amplifier, increased and reproduced on a larger speaker. When the piezo is affected by vibration (such as the vibrations of a guitar sound board when strummed), those vibrations cause the metal and ceramic to interact in such a way that the current is modified. Basically, the amplifier sends a small current through the piezo element (though not enough current to cause the piezo to MAKE sound). Many devices, from smoke alarms to alarm clocks to children’s toys, use piezos as a sort of miniature speaker to produce sound.įortunately for CBG builders, the piezo can also be used in a different way: to pick up sound vibrations, which can then be amplified by other circuits such as those in a guitar amplifier. Using piezos to create sound, rather than detect sound, is the most common usage of them in manufacturing. When excited with an appropriate electric current, the interaction between the metal and the ceramic can cause sound to be produced. Wire leads are soldered to these disks (one to the metal part, one to the ceramic part). We will also briefly discuss the topic of wiring in a otentiometer.īe sure to check out our web store for a nice selection of piezos, jacks and other components at great prices!Ī standard piezo consists of a thin metal disk (usually brass, sometimes stainless steel), with a very thin wafer of ceramic glued to it. We will cover the basics of what piezo to use, where you can put it, how to mount it, and how to wire it to a jack. This two-part article is meant to be a basic “here’s what you need to get started” approach to helping people install a piezo pickup into their Cigar Box Guitar build. Add in concepts such as insulation methods, multiple piezos, volume potentiometers and wiring schematics, and the waters tend to get pretty muddy pretty fast. ![]() Some folks say that they should be built into the bridge, others attach them to the exterior of the bridge some mount them inside the box lid, others attach them to the outside of the lid. Everyone seems to have a different idea of how to use them. Tagging u/Wavestate-Prests because they seemed interested.A lot of new Cigar Box Guitar (CBG) builders (and more than a few veterans) tend to get a bit uneasy when the topic of piezo pickups comes up. I don't know much about Piezo pickup systems, and for all I know, these techniques and devices may have not positive effect on a Piezo system.īut what you describe-the noise going away when touching the grounded side of the jack-is the classic technique to find-out if your guitar needs a "string-ground" connection. Now, these Taylor-related videos and articles seem to be geared toward noise problems associated with magnetic pickups. Here's a message from Taylor Guitars (which I didn't find super-helpful): This fellow discusses another method of making a string-ground connection on an acoustic guitar: The reason I'm not recommending that method is because firmly attaching that player to ground can be a shock hazard, under certain circumstances (as is covered on that linked page). With this first link, I'm not recommending the method illustrated in the pic on this page (about half-way down the page), but I'm offerring it an example: ![]()
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